Peters



(No Model.) f 2 sheets-Sheet 1.

" A. H. HAMON.v

DIRIGI'BLB AEBOSTAT.

No. 350,303. Patented Oct. 5, 1886.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2Q A. E. HAMON.

DIRIGIBLB ABROSTAT.

No. 35o-,30s.

- 5mm@ www UNITED STATES ATENT. FFICE AUGUSTIN HENRI HAMON, OF IZOULOGNESURSEINE, FRANCE.

DIRIGIBLE AEROSTAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,303, dated October 5, 1886.

Application led April 8, 1885. Serial No. 161,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, AUGUSTIN HENRI HA- MON, engineer, of Bonlogne-Sur-Seine, in the Republic of France, haveinvented a Dirigible Aerostat, of which the following isa specification.

My invention consists of certainpimprovementsin the construction of dirigible aerostats or balloons, my improvements having more especial reference to the device for operating the propeller-blades.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side View of a balloon embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with the frame in section. Fig. 3 illustrates another form of balloon embodying my improvements. Figs. 43nd 5show my improved feathering propelling devices in enlarged elevation and section. Fig. 6 is a still further enlarged view of a portion of the same. Fig. 7 is another modified form of balloon to which my improved propellers may be applied, and Fig. 8 is a detached view of one feature of my improvement.

A, Figs. 1 and 2, is the main frame, preferably constructed of bamboo. To this frameare attached the ropes or. vcords a, connecting it to the net of the aerostat B, which in this case is shown as comprising two air-vessels in line with each other. Upon this frame Aat the center is iixed a motor, M, of any suitable construction, preferably an electric motor, from which motion is transmitted by means of a chain or band, g, Fig. 2, toa pulley, b, on a horizontal transverse driving or propeller shaft, 0.- rlhis driving-shaft occupies the space between the frontand rear sections ofthe aerostat, and is mounted in suitable bearings in a frame, e', supported by suitable braces, e, on the main frame A. This shaft I prefer to make of a metal tube,and at opposite ends it carries propellers D D', each provided with feathering-blades p p', .themotions of which are controlled, as hereinafter described.

The car N is suspended from' theframe A by means of suitable ropes, f, and is steadied by means of light rods f. To the rear of the frame A is hinged a rudder, G, which the aeronaut can control from the car N by means of asuitable rope or ropes, I. Horizontal rudders V are also hinged to the frame A at its extremities, and cords 7L are provided, whereby the rudders V may be adjusted to different positions. Thus, when it is desired to cause the balloon to rise in its forward motion these fan yshaped propellers V are inclined backward, as shown by the dotted lines l, Fig. l, and, on the other hand, when it desired to cause the balloon to descend as it advances, the rudder-s G are inclined forward, as indicated by the dotted lines 2.-

The battery for working the electric motor may be contained in the car, and suitable conductors, J, provided. It is not necessary, however, that the propellers should be mounted on ahorizontal axis. For instance, in the modification, Fig. .3, I have illustrated a prof peller or propellers mounted on vertical axes and occupying an enlarged space between the separated portions of the aerostat. In such case I prefer to fill up theintermediate spaces withair-vessels B"B2, as found convenient, the whole being enveloped in netting.

Instead of suspending the car N from framework, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2, I may so construct the air-vessels that sufficient space will be left between them to mount the car on the frame-work, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and

`in such case the motor,as well as the batteries,

maybe carried in the car.

I prefer to makethe car of an ovoid form, in

order to present less resistance to the forward movement of the aerostat.

As I have before said, I make the bladesA of the propellers to feather --that is, each blade of each propeller will strike the air during one-haltof the revolution of the shaft with its flat surface, and during the other half pre sent only its edge as a resistance. By this means the resistance during the return-stroke is reduced to a minimum. To obtain this feathering movement of the blades I make use of the devices illustrated more fully in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. On the frame-work c ande, around the shaft c, is ri idlynxed a hoopprflanged ring, Z,providec within its periphery with two cams, m m, and in the flanges of the ring are formed, adja'centto the said cams, recesses or notches r', Figs. 4 and6. At the extremity of the hollow shaft c there is secured achub, g, carrying sockets q', for the reception of the endsof the rods t, which are secured in the sockets by any IOO suitable means. Over each of these rods and free to turn thereon is a tube, u, to which is rigidly connected at its extremity the blade p, the tube and blade being held on the rod by a suitable collar or pin, t. The tube fzmvhich, together with its blades, can turn on the rod t, carries a star-Wheel, a, in such a position that the cams m m will be in its path as the shaft c carries the blades around. The tube also carries a squarenga flat edge of which is adapted to act against the flanged face of the ring Z, so that as the shaft c rotates, carrying with it the rodst and blades, the square o, in conjunction with the flanged edge ofthe ring Z, will keep the blades in the positions they occupy in relation tothe rods t T until the star-wheels n a come into Contact with the cams m m. Then a quarter-turn Will be imparted to each blade by means ofthe cam, the corners of the square r permitting this at the time,since these corners then enter the notches 1", as illustrated in Fig. 6. By this movement the requisite feathering will be imparted to the blade. By changing the points at Which this feathering takes place it will be understood that the balloon may be caused to rise or descend as the blades are operated. This change of the feathering-point may be effected by mounting the ring Zto turn on a supporting-ring, Z, which is fixed to the frame, as illustrated in Fig. 8, so that the cams with a rotating shaft having swiveled blades p p', provided with star-wheels and squares to engage with the said cams and notches to give two quarter-turns to the blades on each revolutionof the shaft, all substantially as set forth.`

2. The combination of the frame of an aerostat and propellershaft having swiveled blades carrying star-wheels and squares, with an adj ustable ring, Z, mounted on the frame, and having cams and notches to act on the said star- Wheels and squares, all substantially as speciiied.

'In testimony WhereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

AUGUSTIN HENRI HAMON.

Witnesses:

LoN FRANCKEN, RoB'r. M. Hoorah. 

